Koori, Fukushima

Koori (桑折町, Koori-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020^[update], the town had an estimated population of 11,679 in 4599 households, and a population density of 270 persons per km². The total area the town was 42.97 square kilometres (16.59 sq mi).^[1]

Koori 桑折町
Town
Koori Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Koori in Fukushima Prefecture
Koori
Coordinates: 37°50′58″N 140°30′59″E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Fukushima
District	Date
Area
• Total	42.97 km2 (16.59 sq mi)
Population  (April 2020)
• Total	11,679
• Density	270/km2 (700/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Torreya nucifera, Pinus densiflora
- Flower	Peach
- Bird	Common cuckoo
Phone number	024-582-2111
Address	Higashi Osumi 18 Koori-machi, Date-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-1611
Website	Official website

Koori Post Office on the former Ōshū Kaidō

former Date District Office

Geography

Kōri is located in the northern Fukushima Basin on the northern border of Fukushima prefecture with Miyagi Prefecture. The northwestern half of the town is mountainous and hilly, and the eastern and southern portions of the town are in the Fukushima Basin along the Abukuma River, which runs through the southeast of the town. There is Mount Handa (865 meters) is to the northwest of the town.

• Rivers: Abukuma River

Neighboring municipalities

• Fukushima Prefecture
  • Date
  • Fukushima
  • Kunimi
• Miyagi Prefecture
  • Shiroishi

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[2] the population of Koori peaked around the year 1950 and has been in decline since. It is now less than it was a century ago.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1920	12,550	—
1930	13,306	+6.0%
1940	13,746	+3.3%
1950	17,703	+28.8%
1960	15,814	−10.7%
1970	14,723	−6.9%
1980	14,901	+1.2%
1990	14,692	−1.4%
2000	13,700	−6.8%
2010	12,853	−6.2%
2020	11,459	−10.8%

Climate

Koori has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Koori is 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,233 mm (48.5 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C (77.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around 0.9 °C (33.6 °F).^[3]

History

The area of present-day Koori was part of ancient Mutsu Province. During the Edo period, it was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate and was the site of a daikansho as well as a post station on the Ōshū Kaidō and the Hasshu Kaidō highways. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province. The town of Koori was created on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It annexed the neighboring villages of Mutsuai, Danzaki and Handa on March 31, 1954.

Economy

The economy of Kōri is primarily agricultural, and is famous for production of fruit, notably peaches. It is a satellite city of the prefectural capital, Fukushima.

Education

Kōri has four public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town has one private high school, but no public high schools.

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Tōhoku Main Line

• Koori

Highway

• Tōhoku Expressway – Koori Junction
• Tōhoku-Chūō Expressway – Koori Junction
• National Route 4

Local attractions

• Kōri-Nishiyama Castle ruins, a National Historic Site
• former Date District Office, a National Important Cultural Property

International relations

Mazie Hirono (D-HI), an U.S. Senator from Hawaii since 2013, was born in Koori. Animator and director Akiyuki Shinbo was also born in Koori.

Koori is twinned with following town(s):

• - Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA since May 15, 1992 ^[4]